Back about ten years ago, I finally got around to reviewing Kiss Of Death, Motorhead’s 2006 release… and let’s just say I didn’t treat it with kid gloves. I had said that, while there was some great material on the disc, there was a certain magical spark that was missing.

What we didn’t know in 2006 (and, for the moment, forgetting I reviewed it a decade later) was that frontman Lemmy Kilmister was more than likely suffering from some of the ailments that would lead to his death in 2015. Here was a 60-year-old man belting out songs with the same sardonic growl that had become Motorhead’s trademark… and, if his voice did sound a little worse for wear, any of these factors could have played a significant role in it.

So, I tried to approach the 20^th Anniversary re-issue of Kiss Of Death with new ears, trying to find things I didn’t hear the first time around. (I’m reviewing a promotional copy of the record that was sent to me.)

For the most part, my view of the basic album has remained the same as it did 10 years ago. There are definitely songs that Kilmister, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee presented that should be held in the same light as classics as “Ace Of Spades”; “Trigger” is one of the best latter-day Motorhead songs that was ever recorded. “Sucker” and “One Night Stand” have their own unique charms, even if they’re not quite as strong.

I will admit, “God Was Never On Your Side” and “Christine” have grown on me a bit more since my original review. Are they knock-outs? No, but they have their own qualities that make them stand out among some of the lesser tracks like “Going Down,” “Sword Of Glory” and “Be My Baby”.

What sets this new edition of Kiss Of Death apart from the original disc is the bonus album, Live At Lowlands Festival 2007. Nearly the entire show is captured for the listener’s pleasure, and Kilmister and crew honestly don’t disappoint. What makes this show stand out is what songs were included in the set. I mean, “Snaggletooth” from No Remorse? “I Got Mine” from Another Perfect Day? Frankly, it was good to hear those tracks again.

As for Kilmister? He still sounds like he was in good form (though it’s entirely possible he was already suffering from some of the health problems that led to his 2015 death). It would be nice to hear additional shows from this period of Motorhead’s history, especially if additional nuggets from their past made it into the set list.

So where does this place the 20^th anniversary edition of Kiss Of Death? The live show definitely adds value to the set, but the original album does redeem itself in many ways. It’s still not as strong as other albums from this period, but proves to be well worth adding to one’s collection.

Rating: B-

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